I had my appt yesterday with my neuro to go over my LP results, which came back negative for MS.

The only reason I even started the process of finding out if it could be MS is because I went to my GP, then to an endocrinologist, to try and figure out why I have had bouts of overwhelming fatigue. The endo ordered the MRI to check for a thyroid tumor. Well, there was no thyroid tumor, but surprisingly they did find a lesion so I was then referred to a neuro.

For years I've had numbness/tingling in my hands often - daily - and twitches and involuntary movements in my legs & arms. Then, of course, there have been bouts of the fatigue, one lasted over a month where I was pretty much useless to my family then just went away one day. I also have bouts of severe pain in my shoulders, neck and down my arms into my wrist. I get pain in my hands from doing anything even mildly strenuous, like opening a package, a jar, massaging anything, etc. I also have hyperactive reflexes as well as bouts of vertigo, and definite problems with short term memory and poor concentration. All of this has been for at least a decade (I'm now 36.)

So my question is, if it's early enough in the onset of MS, could the LP come back negative and I still have MS? My MRI did show a lesion, just one, but the neuro said that could just be normal. She knows I have something going on, but with the negative LP, she's convinced it's not MS.

I'm now being referred to a rheumatologist to check for things like RA, lupus, etc.

I also have Hashimoto's, so I definitely have something auto-immune going on, but my endo keeps track of my thyroid very closely and checks it pretty often, so I don't think all of this could be just from the thyroid.

I had my appt yesterday with my neuro to go over my LP results, which came back negative for MS.

The only reason I even started the process of finding out if it could be MS is because I went to my GP, then to an endocrinologist, to try and figure out why I have had bouts of overwhelming fatigue. The endo ordered the MRI to check for a thyroid tumor. Well, there was no thyroid tumor, but surprisingly they did find a lesion so I was then referred to a neuro.

For years I've had numbness/tingling in my hands often - daily - and twitches and involuntary movements in my legs & arms. Then, of course, there have been bouts of the fatigue, one lasted over a month where I was pretty much useless to my family then just went away one day. I also have bouts of severe pain in my shoulders, neck and down my arms into my wrist. I get pain in my hands from doing anything even mildly strenuous, like opening a package, a jar, massaging anything, etc. I also have hyperactive reflexes as well as bouts of vertigo, and definite problems with short term memory and poor concentration. All of this has been for at least a decade (I'm now 36.)

So my question is, if it's early enough in the onset of MS, could the LP come back negative and I still have MS? My MRI did show a lesion, just one, but the neuro said that could just be normal. She knows I have something going on, but with the negative LP, she's convinced it's not MS.

I'm now being referred to a rheumatologist to check for things like RA, lupus, etc.

I also have Hashimoto's, so I definitely have something auto-immune going on, but my endo keeps track of my thyroid very closely and checks it pretty often, so I don't think all of this could be just from the thyroid.

Thoughts?

check out websites for sjogrens syndrome. sounds like you have a lot of the same symptoms that i do. ask your doc to do an antinuclear antibody test, if you haven't already had one.

i've read were people have been diagnosed with sjogrens before they have the symptoms of dry eye or dry mouth. mine started with the dry eye, but a lot of the other symptoms that you mention too. some shoggies are even diagnosed with it without the bloodwork, just from symptoms alone because they say that the antinuclear (ANA) test doesn't always show up in people until their symptoms become more serious. then again...you also have the same symptoms as fibromyalgia and a rheumotologist can diagnose that. there is no blood tests for that, just pressure points and symptoms. i would mention both if i were you. i didn't get fibro until i was already positive for sjogrens. either way....don't worry about it now. i'm sure they'll find out what's going on.

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tricializ (03-07-2012)

Hello, I'm new here and I am currently going through the diagnosis process and wanted to pass along some information that could help.

First, there is no test that rules out MS. A LP can be positive or inconclusive on MS. Your doctor is dead wrong to rule out MS. My LP had elevated oligloconal banding, but not enough for a confirmed diagnosis. We are still proceeding forward.

Second, a spinal MRI is the next step. Do not just sit back and do nothing! Document everything and get a second opinion from a neuro that specializes in MS.

Dreshols is actually mostly right, but not entirely. A LP can also be negative and a patient can still be diagnosed with MS......15% of MSers have negative LPs..Im one of them

MS is diagnosed by ruling out everything else and following the revised McDonald criteria....this DOES include the spinal MRI which should be done with and without contrast....and that one lesion which your doctor saw...Lesions can come from any number of things. Migranes, prior infections, brain or head trauma...a lesion is simply a scar. The size and shape of it indicates if it is MS related or not.

There are several other tests which should be run, so please make sure you are dealing with a Neuro who specializes in MS diagnosis.